Explore the power of perspective in uncertain times. Discover how Stoic philosophy emphasizes that while we can't control when we live, we can control how we respond. Reflect on the major events of the last two decades—both positive and negative. Learn about a 14-day challenge to help you thrive in the present, no matter the circumstances. Embrace resilience and personal growth as you navigate life's challenges, just as great thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus did before us.
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Control What You Can
You don't control when you're alive, but you do control how you live.
Focus on making the most of the present moment, regardless of external circumstances.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Thriving in Difficulty
Make the best of your current situation, even if it's not ideal.
Learn from Stoic figures like Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca, who thrived in difficult times.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Alive Time Challenge
Take the Daily Stoic Alive Time Challenge to make the most of your current situation.
The 14-day challenge offers Stoic wisdom to help you respond effectively to difficulties.
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As we’ve discussed, one could look out at the world right now and see a lot of negative. Or you could grab the other handle, as Epictetus says, and see the positive. It’s an open question: Is this a great time to be alive or a terrible one? Are we blessed to have spent twenty years without any major wars, without any truly global crises, with sustained periods of economic prosperity and incredible technological advances? Or has it been twenty years with three major recessions, with the terror of terrorism, disruptive or disappointing tech, and now with a global pandemic?
Here’s the Stoic’s answer: It doesn’t matter.Because you don’t control when you live. What history will think of this period compared to other periods is meaningless. The only thing that counts is that you’re alive right now.
We don’t choose when we live, we choose how we live. That’s it. You didn’t ask for this moment. Maybe you’d prefer things to be different. Well...they aren’t. And you’re going to have to make do. Understand this and you will be wise. Adhere to it and you will be successful.
How can we make the most of right now? That’s the question. How can we live well within—or in spite—of what’s happening? That’s our job. You think Marcus wanted to live through the plague or Epictetus in a time where slavery existed or Seneca during Nero’s rule? Nope. But they figured it out. They made it work.
The Daily Stoic